U.S. sought Russia’s help for Austin Tice in first Trump term, ex-envoy book says
According to a new book by former Trump national security adviser Robert O’Brien, U.S. officials during the first Trump administration asked Russia to use its influence with Syria to help free journalist Austin Tice. O’Brien, who was a hostage negotiator at the time, wrote that he asked Russian national security adviser Nikolai Patrushev if Moscow could leverage its relationship with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. Patrushev agreed, but the effort “ran into a brick wall,” O’Brien wrote, citing Assad’s allies. The book details multiple other attempts to secure Tice’s release, including missions by U.S. officials Kash Patel and Roger Carstens, actor Sean Penn, and intermediaries from the Vatican, Jordan, and Lebanon. The CIA changed its assessment of Tice’s case in 2024, indicating with low confidence that he is likely dead. O’Brien wrote that the first Trump administration recovered 55 Americans from 24 countries without concessions, and over 80 have been recovered during the president’s second term.
What’s reported
Robert O’Brien, then a hostage negotiator and later national security adviser, asked Russian national security adviser Nikolai Patrushev for help freeing Austin Tice.
Patrushev agreed, but the effort was unsuccessful, according to O’Brien’s book.
O’Brien sent U.S. officials Kash Patel and Roger Carstens to Syria in fall 2020 to meet with Syrian intelligence chief Ali Mamlouk.
Then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had concerns about the mission and arranged armed drones and satellites to monitor the officials.
Actor Sean Penn told O’Brien in 2019 about a Lebanese businessman, Elias Kwaham, who claimed to have seen Tice in Syria; the connection did not lead to a release.
King Abdullah II of Jordan and the Vatican also assisted in efforts, according to O’Brien.
The CIA changed its assessment in 2024, indicating with low confidence that Tice is likely dead.
Key figures
Robert O’Brien, former hostage negotiator and national security adviser under President Trump
Nikolai Patrushev, Russian national security adviser
Bashar al-Assad, then-Syrian leader
Austin Tice, freelance journalist
Kash Patel, senior director for counterterrorism on National Security Council
Sean Penn, actor
Roger Carstens, special presidential envoy for hostage affairs
Mike Pompeo, then-Secretary of State
Ali Mamlouk, Syrian intelligence chief
Elias Kwaham, Lebanese businessman
King Abdullah II of Jordan
Sources: CBS News
